Bryce Zabel is a Hollywood producer, filmmaker, author, and UFO researcher. In the past, Bryce served as a space reporter for multiple networks, including CNN. We talk with Bryce about the late Neil Armstrong, and about other astronauts who have voiced opinions about UFOs and extraterrestrial life. We also talk about space colonization, a new UK UFO petition, and other space and UFO news on this episode of Spacing Out!

In the whirlwind of the alleged Roswell incident cover up lies a secret set of government documents that compiles a 12-man list of our nations finest scientists, military leaders, and government officials. These men were allegedly authorized by President Truman to investigate the Roswell incident, and were called the Majestic 12. The report of the Majestic 12 lurks in the shadows of UFO accounts, and its story woven through a web of top-secret memos, highly classified meetings, and clandestine operations.

Don Most, best remembered as Ralph from Happy Days, notions himself as an amateur ufologist. He is partnering with TV producer Bryce Zabel and Bridget Healey to produce a film surrounding the mystery of the Majestic 12, and the people who research it. Currently in the development stage, they hope this film will bring to light the mystery that surrounds this top secret government group.

Mainstream media has historically cast a crooked eye on UFO stories, sightings, and its community of researchers. The stories have been relegated to the end of the newscasts as the anchors smile and shake their heads. It’s not just the media. Hollywood holds a large part too. With its constant barrage of “aliens attacking mankind scenarios,” it’s easy to understand how this view is so easily accepted.

At the 2012 International UFO Congress, a panel was held to discuss how UFOs and sightings are reported, and Hollywood’s role in portraying them in film. Bryce Zabel, Ben Hansen, and Lee Speigel converged to voice their views. All three have extensive backgrounds in both media and film, and have dedicated their careers to changing the awareness of the masses. Public perception may be shifting, too. With NASA having released news about new planets being discovered where life could potentially exist, and the increasing amount of information available online, the views on UFOs may be feeling the winds of change.

In early November, the White House officially responded to two UFO petitions on their “We The People” section of the White House website. The White House stated that “The U.S. government has no evidence that any life exists outside our planet, or that an extraterrestrial presence has contacted or engaged any member of the human race.” Authors of the petitions, as well as some supporters of these petitions, were hoping for a different response.

Stephen Bassett (credit: PRG)

As a result, Stephen Bassett of the Paradigm Research Group (PRG), who authored one of the initial petitions, announced his follow-up petition that will be submitted to the “We the People” section of the White House website on December 1st. The new petition reads, “We petition the Obama Administration to demand a full congressional investigation of UFO/ET Disclosure efforts by the Clinton OSTP – the Rockefeller Initiative.” The information on the PRG website about this new petition explains, “In response to the Disclosure Petition, the OSTP (Office of Science and Technology Policy) stated, ‘The U.S. government has no evidence that any life exists outside our planet, or that an extraterrestrial presence has contacted or engaged any member of the human race.’ If true, what was the OSTP investigating from March 1993 to October 1996 in concert with billionaire and Clinton friend, Laurance Rockefeller?”

Bassett’s petition goes live on December 1, and will need to get 25,000 signatures by December 31 in order to receive a response from the White House.

But Bassett’s petitions have received criticism for their combative wording and conspiracy-oriented nature. A new petition that went live today takes a different approach.

Bryce Zabel

Richard Dolan

Hollywood writer/producer Bryce Zabel and UFO historian/author Richard Dolan are the authors of the petition calling for the White House to “Investigate Unidentified Aerial Phenomena as Reported by Citizens, Police, Astronauts, Pilots and the Military.” The detailed description of the petition reads:

Searching for microbes on Mars and radio signals from space is not enough. We must explain Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, or UAP, right here on Earth.

For six decades worldwide, credible witnesses (including Presidents Carter and Reagan) have consistently described objects with flight capabilities beyond our technology. UAP are often verified by radar and even seen at nuclear sites by military officers.

Given the national security implications, the United States should conduct an independent investigation. This inquiry must transparently review the key unsolved UAP reports with access to classified documents. It must have the power to call witnesses and grant immunity.